Chuck Schumer lays out aggressive schedule for Israel aid post-trip

Congress

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer laid out an aggressive schedule on Monday for delivering aid and resources to Israel, fresh off a whirlwind trip over the weekend.

The highest-ranking Jewish leader in government, Schumer said the Senate will not wait for the House to devise its own plan, as the lower chamber continues to be without a permanent speaker. He said he’s consulted with Israeli officials about what they need, and the package will include military, intelligence, diplomatic and humanitarian aid.

“The Senate must go first. I know that the House is in disarray, but we cannot wait for them,” Schumer said.

The House, of course, will have to sign off on any legislation, and that could be a challenge if the Senate rolls Israel aid together with Ukraine assistance, border security or other priorities.

Meanwhile, Schumer’s Senate can confirm Jack Lew as ambassador to Israel on its own. Lew has a confirmation hearing Wednesday, then needs a committee vote and then could receive a floor vote within a couple of weeks. Schumer said Israel needs “an ambassador more than ever now.”

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell concentrated his first Senate remarks since the terrorist attack on deterring Iran and supporting Israel, declaring the United States must “provide maximum support to Israel’s counterterrorist operation as long as it takes.”